Upcycled Metal Canister (and Muffler!) Jack-O’-Lanterns

Since Fall is my favorite season I get extra inspired to do decor related DIY projects. I keep my eye out for the latest trends and like to try my hand at creating my own version.

This year, these caught my attention:

The variations are endless! I knew I had a couple of old metal items in our shed that would be perfect for this project. When I went searching for them, I found an old rusty metal canister and, believe it or not, an old muffler that I couldn’t wait to use!

Quick story about the muffler - it came off my husband’s truck. Nothing gets thrown away around here. Everything has potential to be used as something else. I couldn’t wait to show Joel what I had created with the hunk of metal he had tossed aside!

This upcycling project is quick and easy. Start by using painters’ tape to create your jack-o’-lantern’s face:

For the teeth, I liked the look of the ripped edges of the tape.

​Next, I attached some paper towels (you could use newspaper, regular paper, plastic, more tape, etc.) to protect the rest of the surface area from overspray:

I then used some black spray paint I had in the basement. I’d recommend using spray paint for this, but regular exterior paint would probably work as well (assuming you’ll be putting these outside).

Spray away, let the paint dry, and then the fun part, pull off the tape and paper towels!

If you couldn’t tell, the jack-o’-lantern on the right is made from the muffler!

I also tried making a mini version out of a random piece of metal (I think it was a light bulb cover of some sort). The surface had ridges, so the facial features ran a little bit. He has a face only a mother could love, but he’s still a cutie!

Can’t wait to make more of these! If you try it out, send a picture to me at [email protected] or tag me on Instagram @countrywrennest.